Russian school siege toll soars to 322Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday paid his respects to the 322 dead and hundreds of wounded from a horrific battle between security forces and heavily-armed militants holding 1,000 hostages at

Govt destroying rally bombing evidence: ALThe main opposition Awami League (AL) yesterday accused the government of destroying vital evidence of deadly grenade attacks on its rally to bungle investigation and save the criminals liked to the government.

Interpol looking for common suspectsPolice yesterday arrested a suspect in the August 21 grenade attack on an Awami League rally, while Interpol is busy digging into information about all suspects in the major bomb blasts in the country

Top US expert due todayJoseph Cofer Black, counter-terrorism coordinator of the US State Department, arrives in Dhaka today on a two-day trip to talk anti-terror measures with the government.

Black talks to Indian media on BangladeshThe United States is keeping a close watch on use of Bangladesh as a potential "platform to project terror elsewhere," said Joseph Cofer Black, State Department's coordinator for counter-terrorism.

Cops start digging into blastIntelligence agencies yesterday started investigations to ascertain whether the two youths injured last Friday in explosion of a bomb they had apparently been making in the office of a non-governmental

Australia edge past PakistanAustralia made it three one-day international wins in as many games against Pakistan at Lord's, but the world champions were pushed all the way in a thrilling encounter here yesterday.

Suit filed against SCBA resolutionA civil suit claiming illegal the resolution of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) on August 29 threatening immediate expulsion of a member for attending the Court of Chief Justice was filed yesterday.

Bangladeshis not communalPrime Minister Khaleda Zia has alleged that a vested quarter is out to damage the country's image at home and abroad through false propaganda.

Violence flares in northern IraqA suicide car bomb exploded yesterday outside a police academy in Kirkuk, killing 20 including 14 policemen and leaving 36 people wounded, said Dr. Rida Abdullah, head of the Kirkuk general hospital.

Sheba Telecom sold to Egyptian companyAfter a long secretive deal, Egypt-based mobile phone operator Orascom Telecom (OT) has bought local operator Sheba Telecom for $60 million -- $50 million in cash and about $10 million in debts it has

Kashmir peace plans okayed at Delhi talksTop Indian and Pakistani officials yesterday approved proposals to break the logjam over Kashmir and strengthen bilateral ties on the eve of a meeting between the rival states' foreign ministers.

Rab arrests Ctg ward commissionerMembers of the Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) in a dawn raid nabbed Awami League (AL)-backed Chittagong Ward Commissioner SM Shahidullah with firearms including a revolver at a slum near his house at South

Khulna UP chairman held for outlaw linkHujjat Ali, chairman of Amirpur Union Parishad in Batiaghata upazila in Khulna was arrested on Friday afternoon at the office of the Superintendent of Police Habibur Rahman.

10 more AL leaders off to IndiaThe Awami League (AL) on its own sent yesterday 10 more of its leaders wounded in August 21 grenade attack on an AL rally, to India for better treatment.

Trader killed, 2 abductedA businessman was killed in Meherpur and a farmer was abducted in Jhenidah on Friday night while a Chuadanga college student abducted on Wednesday is still missing.

4 lawyers jailedFour lawyers, including Secretary of Bogra Bar Association Golam Rabbani, were sent to jail after their bail prayer was rejected in a criminal case.

Rab nabs ten outlaws, recovers armsRapid Action Battalion (Rab) of the Rajshahi region arrested 10 suspected outlaws and recovered arms and ammunition from the village of Salaipur under Gayespur union in Pabna Sadar Upazila in a pre-dawn

President, PM shocked at Russia incidentPresident Iajuddin Ahmed and Prime Minister Khaleda Zia yesterday condemned the act of terrorism in southern Russia and expressed their profound shock at the loss of many lives including the schoolchildren

India for equal rich-poor relationship in WTORich nations must acknowledge the basis realities of developing countries if the World Trade Organisation (WTO) is to move forward, Indian Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath said Friday.

Form national committee on WTO: ActionAidActionAid, an international NGO, yesterday suggested forming a National Committee on WTO to effectively take part in future trade negotiations with a view to protect the interest of least developed countries

US still presses China on piracy, trade gapThe United States is still looking for proof that China is serious about a promised crackdown on illegal copying of billions of dollars of US goods, a top Commerce Depart-ment official said Friday.

Opec mulling 28-30 dollar price bandOpec is considering raising its price band to between 28 and 30 dollars a barrel, Qatar's energy minister said in comments published Saturday, ahead of a crucial meeting of the cartel.

Football:Big brothers thru'Mohammedan Sporting Club confirmed their semifinal berth in the fourth Nitol-Tata National Football League but not before a goal rush against their Chittagong namesake at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium

Cricket:A sour endBangladesh suffered a last-ball defeat in their final practice match against Scotland at Raeburn Place in Edinburgh on Friday.

Cricket:Symonds rallies AussiesAndrew Symonds unbeaten 104 took Australia to 269 for six in their one-day international against Pakistan at Lord's here Saturday.

Cricket:Pakistan 131/4Set to score a massive 270 for victory, Pakistan were 131 for four after 31 overs against world champions Australia in the one-off NatWest International one-day international at Lord's in London yesterday.

Tennis:Roddick roarsDefending champion Andy Roddick kept the home flag flying at the US Open on Friday, but it was a bad day for his compatriots as only two American men reached the third round, their worst showing in tournament

Cricket:ICC cautions BariPakistan chairman of selectors Wasim Bari has been warned by the International Cricket Council (ICC) as to his future conduct after his criticism of umpire David Shepherd.

Cricket:Vaughan not worriedEngland captain Michael Vaughan maintained his latest one-day batting failure was not preying on his mind and insisted he was just an innings away from finding his form.

Tennis:US OPEN DIARYShikha Uberoi had met two-time US Open champion Venus Williams prior to their second round match on Thursday at the US Open.

Football:First Raul then OwenMichael Owen may have helped Real Madrid to their opening-day Spanish league win over Mallorca but Raul, the man he replaced after the latter suffered a first-half thigh injury, is still flavour of the

Football:Rooney will buy his timeWayne Rooney believes he may have to wait until next season to celebrate Premiership title glory with Manchester United.

Football:Bangladesh open campaign todayBangladesh launch their AFC Under-17 Football Championship campaign today when they take on Uzbekistan in their Group D opener at Fukushima in Japan.

Bashar to have op on MondayBangladesh cricket captain Habibul Bashar will undergo surgery on his injured right thumb on Monday at the Avenue Hospital of Melbourne in Australia.

Specialist surgeon Dr.

Chess:Five now lead Rating ChessInternational Master Enamul Hossain Rajib lost his solo lead to four others in the Destiny Open FIDE Rating Chess Tournament when he was defeated by FIDE Master Sheikh Nasir Ahmed in the seventh round

Cricket:Sachin ruled out of Champions TrophyAll-rounder Rohan Gavaskar will replace an injured Sachin Tendulkar in India's squad for next week's Champions Trophy in England, an Indian cricket board official announced on Saturday.

Cricket:ICC okays late replacementsEngland, Pakistan and South Africa have been allowed to replace injured players in their Champions Trophy squads, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said on Saturday.

Football:Flying DutchmenThe Netherlands won an easy but unimpressive 3-0 victory against Liechtenstein on Friday in a warm up match ahead of their opening 2006 World Cup qualifier against the Czech Republic next week.

Table Tennis:Open TTThe first Sharp Blade Open Table Tennis Competition got underway yesterday with the men's and women's unseeded singles being decided on the day at the Woodenfloor gymnasium.

Football:Scots hold SpainSpain were fortunate to scramble a 1-1 draw at home to Scotland on Friday in a friendly international that was abandoned after an hour because of a floodlight failure and a waterlogged pitch.

Healthcare goes haywirePatients are being deprived of healthcare facilities here due to dearth of physicians in Patuakhali General Hospital and seven upazila health complexes, each consisting of 31beds.

Work resumes at Uttara EPZIndustrial units in the Uttara EPZ (Export Processing Zone) here resumed operation on Saturday morning after suspension of work for a day.

Reception to winner Satkhira girlA reception was accorded to Farjana Balu Shilpi, who emerged third in the SAARC Carom Competition (mixed double) held in New Delhi in July this year.

RETU enters 2nd year amid festivityThe Rajshahi Engineering and Technology University observed its first founding anniversary on September 1 with great enthusiasm and day-long programmes.

Rab nabs arms traderRab (Rapid Action Battalion) arrested an alleged arms trader and recovered a some firearms along with ammunition from his house on Friday.

Two killed in B'baria road mishapTwo persons were killed and seven injured when a Maxi human hauler fell into Lohor river by breaking the railing of a bridge at Budhumti in the Sadar upazila on Friday.

What happens next?What if the plot had succeeded in its mission? Imagine the situation on August 22nd, a day after the carnage outside the Awami League offices. The top opposition leadership wiped out.

The Democrats' toughness gapShortly before the 1992 election, a World War II veteran approached Newsweek and other major media outlets with an unsubstantiated story about how he said he saw President George H.W.

An evening of classical musicSeptember 3 was a day to remember for music lovers. The cultural feast began with a riveting tabla performance by Prasun Chatterjeea disciple of legendary tabla player Alla Rakha.

Between The Notes: A musical exploration'Funky' is the appropriate term to describe the popular British music group Between The Notes (BTN), which features renowned cellist Matthew Barley. This group arrived in Dhaka on September 4.

World traumatisedTragic, despicable, inhumane, cowardly, barbaric, evil, and astonishing -- the deaths of a hundred or more people including children in a siege in Russia sparked strong words for the hostage-takers from

Israel launches missile strike against HamasIsrael pressed its threatened onslaught against Hamas yesterday, launching an early morning air strike in the Gaza Strip and a major search operation in the northern West Bank following this week's deadly

Bush & Kerry trade jabs on campaign trailPresident Bush and Democratic rival John Kerry traded blows over jobs and security Friday as they began a final two-month election sprint, with Bush touting his economic record and Kerry launching a fierce

World press mourns school siege victimsHarrowing photographs of traumatised children fleeing their school at the brutal climax to a Russian hostage crisis dominated the world's front pages yesterday, with many slamming Moscow for failing to

27 more Pak ministers take oath of officePakistani President Pervez Mush-arraf yesterday swore in another 27 ministers, three days after inducting a 32-member cabinet headed by newly elected Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, officials said.

'Clinton has multiple artery blockages'Former president Bill Clinton has "multi-vessel coronary artery disease" but should recover well after surgery next week, according to the surgeon who advised the ex-president about his options afterexamining

Editorial:Foreign investment not aidThe latest figures showing that foreign aid to Bangladesh has slowed down significantly in the past fiscal year at the same time that foreign direct investment in the country has risen must be counted

Editorial:City hospitalsThe need for building up the capacity to deal with an unforeseen medical crisis cannot be overemphasized in an overpopulated metropolis like Dhaka.

Democratisation of the UN systemAs globalisation is blurring the traditional inter-state boundaries and increasing interdependence at the intra and inter-state levels, the need for the promotion of global democracy has gained paramount

How are things in Dhaka?How are things in Dhaka?" To answer that around this time last year, I would resort to a kind of mystification like, oh, we have a parliamentary democracy, or the consumer life style has really shot up,

Attacks and our helplessnessA few days before his death, Dr. Humayun Azad denounced the so-called civil society for being a helpless spectator of violence in the country.

Attention: BBCIt is a matter of grave concern that the broadcasting time of BBC world service on FM 100 meter is gradually reduced. We could hear the news and programs from 4 pm to 11.30 pm (Bangladesh standard time).

Healthy mouth in DiabetesIf you have diabetes, elevated blood sugar levels can damage many parts of your body and your mouth is no exception.

Malaria: General informationMalaria is a serious, sometimes fatal, disease caused by a parasite. There are four kinds of malaria that can infect humans: Plasmodium falciparum, P. vivax, P. ovale, and P. malariae.

10 Essential health tips1. Move moreMake it a daily challenge to find ways to move your body. Climb stairs if given a choice between that and escalators or elevators.

Gulshan not so sereneAlthough Gulshan continues to enjoy the reputation as an elite area of the city, in reality it is not quite the elegant locality one might be led to expect.

Libraries losing appealThe library-culture is fast diminishing from government colleges as students are becoming apathetic towards library activities because of poor collection of books and general negligence of the authorities.

A laborious way to eke out livingHundreds of people are sitting huddled together. In tattered dresses, their sunburnt faces look forlorn. Only their expectant eyes burn brightly.